WAIMEA SOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 October 1928, Page 7

WAIMEA SOUTH

WAKEFIELD IN THE ’FORTIES ITS EARLY ASSOCIATIONS (By E. W. Hodgson)(No. E) Wakefield hears a name that should he highly honoured in New Zealand. The Wakefield family in the Turtles were all stalwarts in colonising, and had more to do with the early settlements in New Zealand (Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Dunedin and Canterbury'), than probably any other family, hut the great work of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and Colonel Win. Wakefield Ims never been recognised and is apparently half forgotten. A neglected plot of four graves in Bolton street cemetery', Wellington, a street or two, and a full length portrait of the elder brother, which was or is in Christchurch Museum (extinct pioneer not to be quite forgotten), remain to show gratitude for their great life work.

The sons of Edward Wakefield, of Essex, who were closely connected with; New Zealand through the New Zealand Company and other colonising bodies were: (1) Edward Gibbon, eldest, a British Colonial statesman, who did great work also in Australia and in Canada, sat in the New Zealand Parliament, and died in Wellington in 1802; (2) Arthur, the third son, a captain, in the Royal Navy, agent of the New Zealand Company for Nelson Settlement,, who was killed in the Wairau Massacre in 1843; (3) Colonel'William, Wakefield, fourth son, a distinguished soldier, who was chief agent of the Company and in charge of Wellington Settlement dying there in 1848. There were also: Felix Wakefield, pioneer settler at Sumner, Canterbury, later a military engineer at the Crimean War, and afterwards for a short time a resident in Nelson; and Daniel Wakefield, of Wellington, who for a while acted as Attorney-General for New Zealand. FINE CLASS OF COLONIST Tt is not certain that the settlement of Wakefield was actually named after this family, but it is of course pretty sure that the settlers had Captain Arthur Wakefield and his brothers in mind. In searching into the early' history of the many' settlements originating from the efforts of this illustrious family the enquirer cannot fail to he struck with surprise and admiration at the line class of colonists they' were able to secure, and the early settlers of Wakefield were no exceptions to this rule. Gibbon Wakefield appears to have been a man with marvellous gifts of persuasion. i The settlement of Wakefield was apparently roughly- laid out, with roads surveyed late in 1842. One can imagine the early surveyors climbing Tytler’s hill—the* Tytler brothers were among Nelson’s first settlers—and getting a rough lay-out, afterwards striking roads at right angles up the main and tributary- valley's. The country was then virtually' all bush except the eastern hills.

In connection with this survey and the later road-making a few settlers came into the place, and erected residences mostly, of a temporary' nature. Later these places were removed and sometimes left no trace whatever, hut the fapiily- names remain, and the descendants are scattered through our valleys. Of these the following may he mentioned: —

1. George Biggs was an expedition man, and lived with his wife and family east of where the bakery now stands. He was at first in the employ' of the Company, afterwards apparently' on the Government survey and was a great hunter of pigs and birds. A large family were brought up at Wakefield, and later they' removed to Motueka valley' where, and in the Tadmor, there are now many descendants. 2. Richard Burnett and his wife lived near where the Wakefield Arms was afterwards built (not far from Mr E. R. Burnett's present;;residence). He was an expedition man and was in the Wairau Massacre where he was severely wounded in the shoulder; evidently, a survey' assistant and not long resident at Wakefield. Afterwards they removed to near Anneshrook, and later to Doveda.le, where, as well as at Wakefield, the family is now well represented. The surveyors were of course the most likely to leave their names with the principal land marks of the district,, and from them we get Spooner's Range and Budge’s Bush. The name Eightv-eight Valley was taken from section 88 which is about Mr Shuttleworth’s property at the entrance. The name Jemmy Lee’s stream was taken from an old. settler or workman, who I lived for a while near the western hank close to the present bridge site, j His camp is remembered because, being I grea.tl.v afraid of floods, he had put J polos into four trees in a square and I built up high from the ground, I SPLENDID FOREST I The land south of Wakefield town- | ship, in Pigeon Valley, in the mouth of j 88 Valley, and through Wai-iti was covered with a splendid forest and the fine prospects for timber attracted some of tlie earliest settlers in 1843. Some of the land had undoubtedly been taken up as soon as it was surveyed hut it was this line timber that brought the first permanent settlers. 1. Edward Baigent and family'.—Mr Baigent lmd looked for timber in other parts but saw what he wanted here. They had come out from their home in Essex in the Clifford landing in May-, 1842, with five young children, and a sixth was horn on arrival. In February, 1843, Mr Baigent acquired land a.t Wakefield from Captain Wilson, and contracted to build immediately. The name they- gave to this wild home was Glen-iti, and that name is mentioned in the late 'forties in the export of timber. The name has been revived by tlie present owner Mrs Joseph Baigent (who is also a direct descendant of a settler of 1842), and the property- which has always remained in the family- is almost a historic residence. The .Jemmy Lee’s stream came from the present bridge site, east of the pine hush, in a course that can still be traced easily, and joined the Wai-iti lower down. Mr Baigent had brought out from Home some milling machinery- for both grain and timber. From the .Temmv Lee lie took off his mill lead,•and installed, first a grist mill, and later a sawmill. Botli these were kept in use —the timber mill going in ordinary working hours, the grist mill at night, nr. at odd times ns needed. This primitive sawmill at first, with cogs, etc., of ake-ake or local hardwood cleared the flat of its fine forest and started the timber business of the Baigents. Hero Mr Henry Baigent, now of Nelson, was born among the timber trees, commencing a career which lias been associated with timber ever since. Other sons were Messrs Edward, Arthur, Alfred, Samuel, Joseph, Thomas and

William Bnigciit. Later cm Mr Tsana Baigcnt, a brother, and Mrs Robson, a sister, with her husband, came out and settled near by. 2. John Norris was a tine stamp of hard working settler, who lived just behind the site of the present public hall in- Wakefield, and worked mostly at, tlaigeiil’s mill, doing the farm work later when there was a farm; Mr sorrisi was a. pioneer prospector also,, and’ his, name remains in Norris'S Gully where he had been ramped, shepherding sheep. It is said that when going with a party over the hills to Taclmor diggings the sluicing timber pinched Ins back and J’inch-back bill got its name, also that looking down on the wilderness before them from the hilltop the party named| the valley Tadmor in the Wilderness after Solomon’s palm city. Mr Norris in old age was a first instructor in hop drying. There are many descendants of the Norrises, especially in the Builer district; a daughter married Mr IT. Tuiniicliff and Messrs Henry, Fred and Ivo TumiiclifT are their sons. (To be continued)